Improvement in horseshoes



J. K. CHRISTOPHER.

HORSESHOB.

Patented Oct. '25., 1870.-

A .mmm

naad sans j anni anni.

move the surplus JESSE CHRISTOPHER, or DAYTON; OHIO) Letter'ratent No. 108,684, daad october 25, 1870.

-w IMPROVEMENT IN uoRsEsHoEs.

The Schedule referred to these Letters 4Iitent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern Bc it known that I, Jnssn K. CHRISTOPHER, of

IDayton, in the county of Montgomery and 'State off.

whichlFigure l represents, in perspective, the upper side of. 'my horse-shoe.' Figure 2 represents the lower surface or sole of my shoe.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on lille a: x.

My invention is designed to relieve the vhorse from the shocks and concussions received in traveling on hard roads or pavements, and 'om the deleterious ciects of cramping the hoof by securing it to an iuiiexible shoe; and

It, therefore, consists of a horseshoe composed of nu elastic and exible material capable of conformin g to the natural growth and form and to be secured thereto in any wellknown manner.

The use of iron shoes, rigidly attached to the hoof ofthe horse, is the source of many diseases oi' the foot andj leg, and causes also many of the defects of gait to which that animal is subject. l

Aside from the rigid and unnatural contraction of vthe hooi' which results fromits confinement to the limits of an iron shoe, the practice ot' fari-iets in cut- -ting' and burning the hoof while fitting theshoe is cruel and in the highest degree injurious.

By the use of my invention the hoof will be permitted to grow and expand as nature intended it should do, and in fitting these slices no cutting of the hoof will be required more than is necessary to regrowth of the edges as one trims his finger-nails. f l

I am aware that iron -shocs have -been iliade with joints at or near the toe, so as to permit a lateral ex- [mision at the heel, lbut they eannotbe beneficial b ecause thc-hoof, in growing, expands in all directions, and such shoes only permit an expansion none dimotion..

I am also aware that shoes have been made slightly elastic. by the insertion of pieces of India rubber within the shoe; but, in those cases, the shoe itself has been rigid, and the elasticity was only intended to relieve the heel, and proved worthless when tested,

In my invention the entire shoe is elastic, and conforms to the inequalities of the hoof, and permits it of the horses hooi',

- to expand in any direction iu obedience tothe requirements of nature. l

That others may more particularly understand Yits tail. Foundation pieces A, of cloth, felt, leather, or other suitable flexible but nou-elastic material, are first cut iu the-form of, a horses shoe. I

One of these foundation-pieces, together with the properly packed in the mold, is then submitted to the vulcanizing action of heat.

When this vulcanizing process is completed, a shoe elastic foundation of cloth, felt, leather, or other suitscrews, or other appliances.

The foundation-piece A is inserted for the purpose of preventing contactbetween the foot andthe elastic 'vulcanized gum, lto obviate any deleterious chemical ei'ect-upon the tissue of the hoof', to avoid frictionbetween the' hoof and shoe, as wouldensue if the elas-J tic sini-face of the latter should be in contact with the hoo fastenings in theshoe orhoof.

Diiierent degrees of density and elasticity may be required to adapt my shoes to the purposes of the roadster, racer, or draft-horse.

The foundation A may also bev made of hard vulcanized rubber instead of leather or fibrous material` `The application ot' devices to prevent slipping, i reserve for separate Letters Patent, and I also reserve foi-'separate patent, the process of treating andcur- Witnesses J.. T. PATTON,

THOMAS TULLY.

construction and operation I will describe it in de'-A raw rubber or other vulcanizable elastic material B,

is ibi-med, the sole of which is composed of dense elastic rubber or other similar substance, with a nonable material, andlsaid shoe may be secured to the horses -foot in the ordinary manner, e., by nails,

and to prevent any'working ofthe nails or'other v ing rubber and other vulcanizable gums which I con- 

